The Indian Express                31.07.2013 

PMC approves Rs 1 crore to each ward for development

Executive Officer of PMC, O P Sihag, said the funds approved for each ward will be used for sanitation works and development of parks. Additionally, it will also be used for construction and repair of roads.

The PMC also decided the Mayor may sanction more funds to the members if the need arises.

Further, it has asked its members to submit estimates related to the development in their areas, which the PMC will review.

The elected members were urging the civic body to allocate Rs 2 crores for each ward, which is more than the developmental budget approved by the government for the 20 wards under the corporation. The members were informed they could approach the government for additional funds.

According to officials, the corporation's budget for this year is about Rs 68 crore including salaries of employees.

At the meeting the PMC also decided to increase the fee on the maintenance of parks from Rs 1.5 to Rs 3 per square feet.

Earlier the corporation had moved the proposal to increase the maintenance charge on the parks from Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 which was later fixed at Rs 3 on the insistence of its members. Elected corporator Lily Bawa, asked for the fee for maintenance of parks to be increased to Rs 4. However, this proposal was declined.

According to PMC members, the increase had become necessary owing to the increase in labour rates in the city.

Meanwhile, the PMC in its meeting also set up a committee to decide on the fee being charged on use of parks for community functions.